Influence of organizational support on the use of legal databases among lawyers in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The emergence of information and communication technology did not exclude the legal profession from its disruptive impact, given rise to the availability of legal databases for legal researches therefore understanding understudying the factors that influences the use of these legal databases is crucial. This study at the organizational level investigated the organizational supports as factor that influences that use of legal databases among lawyers in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The study adopted the descriptive survey design. Using Taro Yamane, the study arrived at a sample of 333 out of a population of 2000 lawyers in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the research questions and hypotheses respectively. The hypotheses were tested using p-values at 0.05 level of significance. The study found a moderate usage (Mean=2.8) of legal databases among lawyers. The test of hypothesis found that organization factors has a positive significant influence on use of legal databases (AdjR 2 =15.3, p=0.001 < 0.05). The study concluded that the place of organization supports in terms of provision of funds, training and retraining, mentoring are inevitable in enhancing quality usage of legal databases for optimum legal researches. It was recommended that law firms, and law schools should increase the frequency and depth of training programmes focused on the use of legal databases. Law firms should establish a training programme aimed at improving the 21st century information literacy skills of lawyers.